Mercedes sticks with McLaren... for the time being

Mercedes-Benz will continue the existing contract(to expire at the end of 2011) with McLaren, thus honoring the 15-year partnership with the British company, although it didn't deny the rumors indicating that it will have acquired a 75% stake at Brawn GP by the end of 2011.

Quoted by the Guardian, Norbert Haug, president of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, claims the strong collaboration with the Woking-based F1 team:"The only decision that is taken is that we are firm, here, partners and are connected for a long period of time.". Also, "That these rumours are going around, fine, But my statement again is that we are 40 per cent shareholders so Mercedes is a large part of McLaren.". Martin Whitmarsh, the team manager, functions on the same frequency as Haug:"A lot of the manufacturers are here almost reluctantly or leaving. If you've got one that's hustling in, saying 'maybe we should look at other options, maybe we should do this or that' then that's a passion and enthusiasm for formula one that makes them such a strong partner.".

It is believed that, from 2010, Brawn GP will be the property of Aabar Investments, a key partner of Daimler in the Middle East. The UAE-based investor will buy the 75% stake, as Mercedes-Benz wouldn't be able to do that because of the on-going partnership with McLaren. However, beginning with the 2012 F1 season, Aabar will pass the ownership of Brawn GP to the German carmaker.